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Topic : How I Fought My Illness

If you've suffered from a debilitating illness and lived to tell your story, please tell it to us. Share your most uplifting and practical ways to fight off illness.

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I am a cancer survivor

I just found out yesterday that, in addition to endometriosis and ovarian cysts, I also have cervical cancer. I am a homemaker with no insurance and am lucky enough to have found a gyn that has "connections" and referred me to a surgeon that will help me work out the finances of surgery. That was before the "cancer" diagnoses, though. God put Dr. Fiorica (the surgeon), Dr Sudbury (my gyn), and Dr Canada (my family dr) in my path for healthcare. &nbsp

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Even with my faith, I'm anxious as both my parents died of cancers. And we have 5 kids between us, so they're care and transportation to school is my "job." &nbsp

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Dr. Phil, if you can offer some counsel, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!&nbsp

Amy &nbsp

Bradenton, FL&nbsp

I have had breast cancer twice, Nov 1998 and Oct 2004 diagnoses; have lost a half and a whole sister from this disease; I also had lung cancer in my Dad's family (paternal grandfather). I plan to be the one who stays on the planet and helps others to get well and stay well. My sisters I believe are on the other side wishing me well and pulling for me to be and stay cured of this disease.

I also have no insurance; was able to be covered at the county hospital as most of my current is child support and they don't count that; so I was able to get my biopsies and have medical following while I cured myself with "alternative" means (I told them you can follow me, but I will not do surgery or chemo, which meant I got to see a different doctor each time as I wasn't being followed by an oncologist; it took me 2 months to get a new biopsy after my lump was gone; I had to agree that I might do surgery were it possible--it was completely benign--that was Feb. 2004). I too have 4 kids, my youngest has Down Syndrome and I want to be here to see my great grandchildren graduate high school, thank you. Fortunately, the alternative helps I used are not all that expensive.

After 1998 diagnosis I did all the conventional MD stuff: lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation. Then I spend the next six years telling people I think I could've cured the cancer with what I'm doing to get the chemo out of my system. Last Nov. I had my chance and I did 3 herbal chemos (essiac, amazon herbs, black drawing poultice), juicing carrott, beet, spinach and wheat grass, listened to Louise Hay's Cancer: Discovering Your Healing Power cd, ate lots of organic food and sprouted bread, did a hot bath and enema, asked people to pray for me, and in 17 days my lump had completely disappeared. So, I've done it both ways, conventional and alternative.

Whatever you do, get hold of Louise Hays cd--I believe that was the most powerful thing I did, that and asking to be prayed for--there's a lot of studies that show other's prayers do speed healing. Several books for you to look at: Love, Medicine and Miracles by Bernie Siegel (he has a more recent book, similar title; haven't read it yet), and Remarkable Recovery by Caryle Hirshberrt & Marc Ian Barash, and "I Beat Cancer, and Here's How I Did It: 50 Stories"(this is almost all alternative stories--I'm sure there are lots of healing stories with complementary medicine--using conventional and alternative together). Lots of long term survivors are out there, and the stories are beginning to be heard, and the mds are doing lots more complementary work. More people are surviving longer all the time. A few famous people I am aware of: Olivia Newton John, Diahnn Carrol, Lance Armstrong.

There's a woman named Dr. Lorraine Day, an md herself (was chief orthopedic surgeon at the hospital for UCSF in San Francisco) who healed her tumor (happened to be breast cancer) using juicing and enemas and organic food pretty my alone. She has a video called "Cancer Doesn't Scare Me Anymore" and spreads the word while actually getting into sparring matches with people; her information is good, however. Her site is easy to find on the web and has pictures.

In this country most people will tell you to do what the doctors say or to use complementary. You may believe you need to do conventional or complementary medicine; if that is your belief by all means do so. I cannot of course treat, prescibe, advise, anything like that; I can however share info. and tell you what I did. I have a paper from an alternative medical journal that covers what nutrients have been tested for use with what chemos (most nutrients made the chemo stronger and improved longevity) if you go that route and can help me with postage and copy cost (my printer is SLOW so I go to Office Depot for 7 cents a copy until I can think of some other source or become a non-profit and have some cash flow. I'm just a struggling single mom turning into a cancer activist at the moment).

There's a wonderful website called annie appleseed project which is an online encyclopedia of alternative cancer treatments. My story is there if you search "gravizon" which is the rainforest herbal formula I used--it's an immune support.

One last thing, as this is getting to be a humungous post--I saw a movie called "The Blue Butterfly" at the Orinda, CA film festival a couple of weeks ago. It is a true story (the child was interviewed and said it was 90% true to his emotion and experience--he's 23 years old now. 13 years ago a french canadian boy who had terminal brain cancer and his mother went to the rainforest in Costa Rica with a world renowned entymologist to catch a blue butterfly. He returned home with the butterfly and to this day is cancer free. A friend of mine who speaks fluent french asked him what he ate while he was there--he said (in french) "I ate what they ate. I drank what they drank." I believe it was the food from the rainforest plus a miracle. I saw him walking around the festival looking healthy as a horse; he wants to help children with cancer. I believe he will. I also believe you can survive, thrive and get well.

You are welcome

Hi Linda , thank you very much, I found the Latin name on the internet and then I could look for the name in my language, now I know what it is, I will check some site's here in the Netherlands about the Grapeseed.

About Grape Seed Extract

I’ve seen postings on being told about Grape Seed Extract.Did you know!

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“Grape Seed Extract – is an OPC!

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OPC's (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) are a set of bioflavonoid complexes that perform as Free Radical scavengers in the human body. Many names refer to this set of bioflavonoids, including PCO's, Oligomeric Procyanidolic Complexes, leuco anthocyanin, anthocyanidin and still others. “

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Yes, grape seed extract helps kill all bacteria in the body and you know we have good bacteria too.I did my research because the show that I watch every day just happened to discuss it today.I am a believer in herbs. They said when taking any OPC you must also re-populate your good bacteria every day by taking the right strains of probiotics.When using any herbs especially ones which kill many pathogens, you must replace the good flora.You cannot leave your gut empty of any bacteria because all sorts of problems can come about.Your gut is your first line of defense. See more info on probiotics in my shared diary.

I have diabetes

I am posting this message about diabetes. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on the diease? I have struggled with it for a few years now. There for a while i didn't think i was going to make it, but here i am doing ok now. I worry sometimes about my heart, because i have some bad shakey spells and my heart just beats really fast. But i had it checked out and it was fine they said. Guess it's just from reading and seeing what all can happen to you with the complications of diabetes. If anyone has any suggestions about diabetes then i would be glad to hear them, I am sure there are people out there who has suffered from it alot longer than i have.

GOOD EVENING BLUE 05...

I am posting this message about diabetes. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on the diease? I have struggled with it for a few years now. There for a while i didn't think i was going to make it, but here i am doing ok now. I worry sometimes about my heart, because i have some bad shakey spells and my heart just beats really fast. But i had it checked out and it was fine they said. Guess it's just from reading and seeing what all can happen to you with the complications of diabetes. If anyone has any suggestions about diabetes then i would be glad to hear them, I am sure there are people out there who has suffered from it alot longer than i have.

I too have Diabetes and have had since Sept 2000. At first I was told it was Type 1 and then later on I was told I have Type 2.

When I was first told that I had Diabetes I was so scared because I didn't know much at all about Diabetes and I just thought that I'd go right on to insulin and that scared me alot to think that for the rest of my life I would have to give myself needles and have to do finger prick tests as well.

Then I saw the Specialist for the first time and he told me that, "No, I didn't need to go onto insulin, that I could go onto tablets."

Now one thing that I have been told by the two Specialist's that I've seen over the last 5 years is that if you keep your blood sugars under good control then there is much less chance of having complications later on in life. And so I've been able to keep my blood sugars under very good control and will keep doing that as I want to live for many many years to come.

Mind you I could do with loosing some weight so I'm not fit at all, but I do watch what I eat 99% of the time and 1% of the time I do have the odd bad thing that I shouldn't have, but you can't be good 100% of the time can you!! My Specialists have told me, "That if I want some chocolate, then have some but just don't eat alot. If I want some ice cream, then have some but just not every day." You just have to be careful with the way you eat, Low fat Low sugar and eat alot of foods that are low in the Glycemic Index.

If you don't know what the Glycemic Index is let me know and I will tell you more about it next time I post.

And last but not lest, just enjoy life and take it one day at a time, you'll be fine. TAKE CARE and hope to hear from you soon, LOVE KELLY.

RE:Diabetes

Hi Friends,&nbsp

I am insulin resistant, and on the verge of diabetes. My blood sugars have been very good since I started the Weight Loss Challenge over 2 years ago. I am being very careful, as I don't want to have my condition develop into type 2 diabetes, but if it does, it's not the end of the world. I have done a lot of reading on the web, and there is a very good website by author David Mendosa. www. mendosa. com (without the spaces) hoping that the post will not be deleted, but this is a very helpful link with lots of good information!!! &nbsp

Thanks for your interest

I’ve seen postings on being told about Grape Seed Extract.Did you know!

&nbsp

&nbsp

&nbsp

&nbsp

“Grape Seed Extract – is an OPC!

&nbsp

&nbsp

OPC's (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) are a set of bioflavonoid complexes that perform as Free Radical scavengers in the human body. Many names refer to this set of bioflavonoids, including PCO's, Oligomeric Procyanidolic Complexes, leuco anthocyanin, anthocyanidin and still others. “

&nbsp

&nbsp

&nbsp

&nbsp

Yes, grape seed extract helps kill all bacteria in the body and you know we have good bacteria too.I did my research because the show that I watch every day just happened to discuss it today.I am a believer in herbs. They said when taking any OPC you must also re-populate your good bacteria every day by taking the right strains of probiotics.When using any herbs especially ones which kill many pathogens, you must replace the good flora.You cannot leave your gut empty of any bacteria because all sorts of problems can come about.Your gut is your first line of defense. See more info on probiotics in my shared diary.

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Thanks for your interest in learning more about natural health.

We have to first understand our gut – our first line of defense.So these items from been extracted from my shared diary on Health.

The usual bacteria present attached to the inner intestinal wall are benign and do not harm us. These bacteria don't make harmful chemicals or provoke immune responses and inflammation. The use of antibiotics or OPC can clear out these more benign bacteria which makes room for yeast and other disease causing bacteria.

How it works:The body has a system of cells called the immune system for fighting foreign invaders. The more difficult foreign invaders have tricks to evade the body's immune system. The result is that the immune system is constantly fighting. These interactions can lead to major problems.These diseases are all marked by the body's immune system attacking the body's organs in what seems to be a prolonged war with no resolution. The body's immune system is designed to fight foreign invaders.

Why should the body's immune system instead attack the body's own organs? Both yeast cells and human cells put out receptors, branch like structures which extend from the surface of the cell. Human cells communicate with each other this way. Some receptors are used to anchor cells to connective tissue. Some receptors are for the immune system. Some receptors tell what kind of cell the cell is. Some of the receptors are like fingerprints and are unique and tell the body that this cell is one of the body’s own cells. Cells which are foreign do not have these cell-identity receptors and then the body knows that they are foreign. The immune system is supposed to recognize self and not attack self.Yeast cells for unknown reasons are able to display a number of human receptors.Candida can display on its surface the human connective tissue receptor. Candida does this well and displays a number of human receptors.

Under such conditions, the immune cells which are turned on to fight Candida but they are also turned on to fight any cells which look like Candida, which are our body's own organs. The immune cells which fight Candida can also attack our body's own organs, resulting in diseases. Chemicals in the diet which kill bacteria will make room for the yeast.

So now we have: OPC's! (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) bioflavonoid complexes that perform as Free Radical scavengers in the human body.

Because Grape Seed and other OPC herbs (all very good) are doing its job hunting down free radicals, usually yeast it is also fighting the good in our gut because Yeast cells for unknown reasons are able to display a number of human receptors.

So it all comes down to getting rid of the bad only in our body.Natsha of Natren probiotics (Healthy Trinity) was called by Congress and has written into the records of Congress setting the standard of putting the good bacteria which protects us back into our bodies because many companies are now producing probiotics with strains that may even do more harm than good.By adding the right strains back which was taken away with antibiotics, OPC’s and others; we have a chance to get back our immune systems.Probiotics (gut flora) is all new to the medical community but is being recognized only now by Congress.

Natasha just happened to be on the first half of the Kaufmann:Know The Cause show yesterday (12:00est).Very informative and for everyone’s sake I hope there is a repeat of that show.

Please keep reading my shared diary for more info.

For the FDA:This info is not meant to treat any symptom.I am just helping people to learn.

Hello Kelly

I too have Diabetes and have had since Sept 2000. At first I was told it was Type 1 and then later on I was told I have Type 2.

When I was first told that I had Diabetes I was so scared because I didn't know much at all about Diabetes and I just thought that I'd go right on to insulin and that scared me alot to think that for the rest of my life I would have to give myself needles and have to do finger prick tests as well.

Then I saw the Specialist for the first time and he told me that, "No, I didn't need to go onto insulin, that I could go onto tablets."

Now one thing that I have been told by the two Specialist's that I've seen over the last 5 years is that if you keep your blood sugars under good control then there is much less chance of having complications later on in life. And so I've been able to keep my blood sugars under very good control and will keep doing that as I want to live for many many years to come.

Mind you I could do with loosing some weight so I'm not fit at all, but I do watch what I eat 99% of the time and 1% of the time I do have the odd bad thing that I shouldn't have, but you can't be good 100% of the time can you!! My Specialists have told me, "That if I want some chocolate, then have some but just don't eat alot. If I want some ice cream, then have some but just not every day." You just have to be careful with the way you eat, Low fat Low sugar and eat alot of foods that are low in the Glycemic Index.

If you don't know what the Glycemic Index is let me know and I will tell you more about it next time I post.

And last but not lest, just enjoy life and take it one day at a time, you'll be fine. TAKE CARE and hope to hear from you soon, LOVE KELLY.

Thank you for the advice, I have to take inslin everyday. It was scary at first. I just hated the thought of having to stick myself with needles everyday. There for a while, i was taking 2 shots everyday. I was still having high blood sugar reading. I was eating right and trying to watch what i ate, but it still didn't do any good.I was hospitalized twice for it and then finally he changed the type of inslin i was taking and I have been doing really well. There is still things i don't understand about it, but it scares me when i hear of people dying with complications from diabetes. Thank you for your kind words and i look forward to hearing from you again.

HI AGAIN, BLUE 05...

Thank you for the advice, I have to take inslin everyday. It was scary at first. I just hated the thought of having to stick myself with needles everyday. There for a while, i was taking 2 shots everyday. I was still having high blood sugar reading. I was eating right and trying to watch what i ate, but it still didn't do any good.I was hospitalized twice for it and then finally he changed the type of inslin i was taking and I have been doing really well. There is still things i don't understand about it, but it scares me when i hear of people dying with complications from diabetes. Thank you for your kind words and i look forward to hearing from you again.

No worries about the advice was glad to be of some help.

While I was pregnant I had to go off the tablets and onto insulin fulltime. I was on 4 shots a day until after I had my little girl who is now 3 years old. As insulin gives you more control on your blood sugars while you are pregnant(while you are pregnant you have to keep your blood sugars very low so that you don't end up having a big baby) but also the tablets I was on could cause birth defects.

While I was pregnant I asked the Specialist if it was possible to go back onto the tablets after I had given birth. He said that I should be able to go back to tablets after I had given birth and had stopped breastfeeding. As the tablets I'm on can cause birth defacts but also the tablets will go through to the breast milk and is not good for the baby.

So, anyway after I had given birth I wasn't able to breastfeed so I was able to go back to the tablets, but I still have nighttime insulin so that my body doesn't have to work so hard at night to keep my blood sugars low.

As to the people who die from complications due to Diabetes, well these people didn't look after themselves right. As it can take many years of high blood sugars to cause big problems, it doesn't happen overnight. So as I said before, if you keep your blood sugars at a good safe control then you have much less of a chance of getting complications later on down the track.

I do know what you mean when you say that there are still things you don't understand about Diabetes, Well I'm still learning more and more all the time about it and I've not had Diabetes for more than 5 years. I guess all you can do is to do alot of reading and each time you see your Speicalist don't be scare to ask any questions that you might have, thats what he/she is there for.

I am glad to hear that your sugars are now at a better control with the new insulin that you are on. Sometimes it can take along while to get things under the right control, but hopefully now things will just get better and better for you.

Nice to talk to someone

While I was pregnant I had to go off the tablets and onto insulin fulltime. I was on 4 shots a day until after I had my little girl who is now 3 years old. As insulin gives you more control on your blood sugars while you are pregnant(while you are pregnant you have to keep your blood sugars very low so that you don't end up having a big baby) but also the tablets I was on could cause birth defects.

While I was pregnant I asked the Specialist if it was possible to go back onto the tablets after I had given birth. He said that I should be able to go back to tablets after I had given birth and had stopped breastfeeding. As the tablets I'm on can cause birth defacts but also the tablets will go through to the breast milk and is not good for the baby.

So, anyway after I had given birth I wasn't able to breastfeed so I was able to go back to the tablets, but I still have nighttime insulin so that my body doesn't have to work so hard at night to keep my blood sugars low.

As to the people who die from complications due to Diabetes, well these people didn't look after themselves right. As it can take many years of high blood sugars to cause big problems, it doesn't happen overnight. So as I said before, if you keep your blood sugars at a good safe control then you have much less of a chance of getting complications later on down the track.

I do know what you mean when you say that there are still things you don't understand about Diabetes, Well I'm still learning more and more all the time about it and I've not had Diabetes for more than 5 years. I guess all you can do is to do alot of reading and each time you see your Speicalist don't be scare to ask any questions that you might have, thats what he/she is there for.

I am glad to hear that your sugars are now at a better control with the new insulin that you are on. Sometimes it can take along while to get things under the right control, but hopefully now things will just get better and better for you.

Well till next time you TAKE CARE, LOVE KELLY.

Thank you Kelly for responding to my Message, It is really nice to talk to someone about diabetes that understands what I mean. No one that I know personally has diabetes, so no one really understands what i feel. I feel tired alot but i am under a lot of stress i guess. I also have ruemotoid arthritis and it really takes its toll on my body in the winter especially. I have had it since i was around 21. I am 37 now. But whatever life throws at you , you learn to handle it. I had gestonional diabetes when i was pregnant with my first child. I guess thats why it later developed into diabetes. It took years to do so though. I know though that there are people out there that has it worse than me, and i do symathize with them, and wish that i could help them. Thank you again for responding to my message, I really like these message boards where you can come and have a helpful conversation about your problems. My name is Tracy by the way!